Step-ladder.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALDEN W. DERBY, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed March 8, 1906. Serial No. 304,879.

' State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ladders, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same.

This invention relates to ladders; and it is designed primarily for usein gathering fruit from trees, in which connection it can be utilizedwithout liability of injury to the tender branches of the tree, althoughit is obviously useful as a step-ladder for household purposes.

It is an object of this invention to produce a ladder with a relativelywide base or space between the sides thereof and at the same timeprevent sagging of the rungs of the ladder through the agency of a novelbrace.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a standard with novelmeans for anchoring the ladder in order that displacement thereof whenin use will be Wholly obviated.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide novel means forretaining the ladder-sections in assembled folded relation when storedor out of use.

Means are also provided for retaining the sections of the ladder inproper relation when the same is in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe details of construction and in the arrangement and combination ofparts, to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, whereby aladder is produced which will possess advantages in points of utility,efficiency, and dura bility and prove comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein likecharacters denote corresponding parts in the several views, in which-Figure l is a view in elevation, illustrating the front of the ladder.Fig. 2 illustrates a side elevation thereof with the parts in operativeposition. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of fragments of the ladder,showing the'securing means.

In the drawings, l l denote the two sides of the ladder, convergingtoward the top and having slightly bent portions 2 2 to cause the saidsides to lie approximately parallel at the upper end of the ladder.

A suitable standard 3 has its up er end between the parallel sides,connecte by a bolt 4, having a thumb-nut 5, whereby the parts may befastened against movement when the proper adjustment is attained.

As a further means for retaining the standard in suitable operativerelation to the sides of the ladder I may provide the said standard witha hook 6, designed to engage the links of a chain 7, extending from oneof the rungs of the ladder.

The rungs 8 have their ends suitably an- 1 certain sagging of the rungsI attach av brace 9 to each rung where the distance between the sideswarrants it. I prefer to provide the standard with a spur or point 10,which will embed itself in the ground and aid in holding the ladderagainst movement. The sides might also be provided with like anchoringdevices 'when the ladder is to be used outside the house; butwhen usedas a step-ladder it is the purpose of the inventor to provide pads orfeet of rubber to bel attached to the ends of the standard and sides,doing away with the spurs, of course, when the ladder is in use-forhousehold purposes.

The brace 9 extends slightly above one of the rungs midway the length ofthe ladder, and in order tohold the standard 3 in a folded position withrelation to the sides I provide a link 11, pivoted to the standard andadapted to swing over the upper end of the brace.

From an inspection of the drawings it will be apparent that sidewisedisplacement of the ladder will be prevented, owing to the width of thebase, and as the standard is secured with relation to the sides of theladder a very strong unyielding structure is afforded when properlyadjusted and secured.

Having fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a ladder, suitable sides, a standard pivotally connected thereto,rungs connecting the sides, a brace attached to the rungs, and a linkpivoted to the standard adapted to engage the end of the brace.

2. In a ladder, suitable sides, a standard therebetween, a bolt forpivotally connecting the standard and sides, means for clamping thesides and standard to hold them friction- I oo IIO

Ially against displacement, rungs for the ladthe standard and adapted toswing over the der, a brace connecting (ertain rungs. end of the brace.I

3; In a ladder, a suta le ladder-section a brace connecting rungs ofsaid ladder-section, ALDEN W DERBY' 5 and extending slightly beyond thelast of Witnesses:

said rungs to which it s attached, a standard O. A. TAFT,

pvoted to the ladder, and a link pvoted to E. M. DODGE'.

